Section 1538 Of Article 3. Regulations From California Health And Safety Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 3.
1538
. (a) Any person may request an inspection of any community
care facility or certified family home in accordance with this
chapter by transmitting to the state department notice of an alleged
violation of applicable requirements prescribed by statutes or
regulations of this state, including, but not limited to, a denial of
access of any person authorized to enter the facility pursuant to
Section 9701 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. A complaint may be
made either orally or in writing.
(b) The substance of the complaint shall be provided to the
licensee or certified family home and foster family agency no earlier
than at the time of the inspection. Unless the complainant
specifically requests otherwise, neither the substance of the
complaint provided the licensee or certified family home and foster
family agency nor any copy of the complaint or any record published,
released, or otherwise made available to the licensee or certified
family home and foster family agency shall disclose the name of any
person mentioned in the complaint except the name of any duly
authorized officer, employee, or agent of the state department
conducting the investigation or inspection pursuant to this chapter.
(c) Upon receipt of a complaint, other than a complaint alleging
denial of a statutory right of access to a community care facility or
certified family home, the state department shall make a preliminary
review and, unless the state department determines that the
complaint is willfully intended to harass a licensee or is without
any reasonable basis, it shall make an onsite inspection of the
community care facility or certified family home within 10 days after
receiving the complaint, except where a visit would adversely affect
the licensing investigation or the investigation of other agencies.
In either event, the complainant shall be promptly informed of the
state department's proposed course of action.
If the department determines that the complaint is intended to
harass, is without a reasonable basis, or, after a site inspection,
is unfounded, then the complaint and any documents related to it
shall be marked confidential and shall not be disclosed to the
public. If the complaint investigation included a site visit, the
licensee or certified family home and foster family agency shall be
notified in writing within 30 days of the dismissal that the
complaint has been dismissed.
(d) Upon receipt of a complaint alleging denial of a statutory
right of access to a community care facility or certified family
home, the state department shall review the complaint. The
complainant shall be notified promptly of the state department's
proposed course of action.
(e) The department shall commence performance of complaint
inspections of certified family homes upon the employment of
sufficient personnel to carry out this function, and by no later than
June 30, 1999. Upon implementation, the department shall notify all
licensed foster family agencies.
(f) Upon receipt of a complaint concerning the care of a client in
an Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care
Needs licensed pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section
1567.50), the department shall notify the appropriate regional center
and the State Department of Developmental Services for the purposes
of investigating the complaint.
(g) Upon receipt of a complaint concerning the vendorization of an
Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care
Needs, the department shall notify the State Department of
Developmental Services for purposes of investigating the complaint.